Rung assembly for folding chairs



April 7, 1953 G. H. NQRQUIST 2,633,901

RUNG ASSEMBLY FOR FOLDING CHAIRS Filed June 27, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR. 6L NN H. NoRQU/ST April 7, 1953 G. H. NoRQulsT 2,633,901

RUNG ASSEMBLY FOR FOLDING CHAIRS 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed June 27, 1950 f y @r3 INVENTOR. GLENN H. NoRu/.sr

@JMW

W6' Arron/Ew Patented Apr. 7, 1953 UNITED STATES. earenr OFFICE 'I'.linsM invention relatesI` to' rung assemblyV tor- Afolding;` chairs. and more particular-lyJ to'x folding-l cnairliaving aback section and a front legf-secftion'hinge'dly'v connected tothe seat: section .which incorporates a cnairstrengtheningrung frame l'iingedly' connected tothe legs` of= the-back sectiorr andfront legse'ction; and which is autoimatiica'lly foldable with then-folding? movement-of the seat` section an'dlfrontfleg section to and-from collapsedposition; v

Folding chairs constructedirr accordance with tliis ,invention generally comprise a back section presenting' a pair of; re'arilegs connected by' arearl rung and leef;extensions-'vvliiclrA extend above theseatseetiont-towhich'a backrest is secured. TheI seat' sectionv generallycomprises an apron frame tot which' a paddedseat` panel is' secured; the seat section' b'eingg'hingedly connected' tothe back sec-- tion, a pair: oil rear" hinge" assemblies" which permith f hiding:V movement of? the seatl sections into substantial parallelism with the'` back section. Tllecfront leg'section comprises a pair of frontl legs conneotedi at the' upper portionstl'lereof by` a front rung4 which isq` out" of'reach of the feet off the` chair occupant. The4 frontleg: section is liinigedly'connectedrv to tlie seat section'by'a' pair o'fiont hinge-assemblies toV permitfoldingrmovementthereointo substantialparallelism with they seat section. I *at'ehingr mechanism is provided` Wliicnfi's' designed' to" securely-latch the front leg` section to theseatsection andthusmaintain thev cnairinri'giderectposition.

Many; foldingfchairs heretofore constructedA arei equippediwitn a` front rung'which pivotallyvconnectedto the front chairlegsvvithintheireach of'thefeetofthe seated chairoccupant. In such prior art-structures; the fi'ont rungis-inther Wayof comfortableplacement" ofk the feet ofthe chairf occupant partially under the chair seat; and additi'o'rIalIy` induces the chairA occupantv to hang; theV heelsof lii'sv shoes'on-the pivotallysupported'front rung.; Which-- often results in breaking or damage structure: 'Il'rea-` rung? fra-me comprises a' pair of side-itunes-l Wliicli.- are rigidly# connected by' one orv more transverselr extendingv connecting'bars located some distance under' the seat'V section when vthe chair is erected and thus out of the reach of theifeet. of;y -tlie chair," occupant. The rear end of eachrsi-de, rungiszhingedly-connectedtothe-adjae 7 cent rear leg of the back section bra simple hinge?r assembly which is substantiallyl concealed. from exterior4 view when the chair is'- erected".v The? front end of each side rungfisfrlikewi'se hingedly' connected' t'othe adjacent front chair legi by: a front hinge assembly.: which is also' substantially-f invisible When-` the chair isz in. erected position. These hinge assemblies are so; constructed asftoI permit' the adjacent ends-of-"each side rung tosubestantialltL abut" the adjacentA face of the chairy legsand t'o revealv onlya hair line-seam therebe-l tween when the chai-ris-iinlerectedposition; and? yet4 permitl automatic. folding of i the'rungframe with theA foldingmovement of:n the: front leg sec-'htion'.

The front'and'rear hinge assemblies whiclrcom nect the rung'fiameto the chair legsmay'be simil.:v inv construction, and each-maybeformedfromal pair of; relatively thin metal' leaf. platesshapeci` in: the form ofa crescent Whichfare buried'incon.- forming grcovesuin; the siderungs-and chairrlegs. Each .leanc 'plate presenting a relatively smallhead portion projecting therefrom which are hingedlyconnected- -b-y' a hinge rivetland designed toseat within the-corner d'ened-by theladjacent face ol" the chair leg`r andf theadjacentfaceV of theVM siderung.

Folding-- chairs-having thisiiinproved runglf'rame associated' therewith arenormally out of the-- reach ofA thefeet'A ofthe chair" occupantso as to= permit comfortable seating` in the-erected chair'V with". the feet -off` the chair occupant" partially un derf the chairl seat.-

Other objects 'and advantages of? this inventiony will? become apparent" as the disclosure-- proceeds.

Although the characteristic features of thisv invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself; and the manner in which it may" be carried out, may be better-understood-by referring'to the following description taken' in connection" with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof; inwhich s Fig. 1 isV a perspective Viewv of the folding-chairequipped with tne improved' hinged rung frame as the same appears in set up position.

Fig. 2 isA an elevational'view'of the foldin'gf'chairl as-it appears when incollapsed position.

3 is a perspective view-of" one ofthe rune` nin-'geassemblies shown in full? lines as tliesame would appear when the chair to Whichtisattaohedis in setv up position, one of thel hinge leaves being' shown in `dottedTA linesv as the same would appear `When the chair t'o'- which it' is attanned is' in folded posi-tion.

Fig. lfis a sectionalviewthrough the'hingefase sembly as the same would appear when looking in the direction of the arrows 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through the front and rear legs of the set up chair as the same would appear when viewed in a horizontal plane, this View showing the manner in which the rung frame is hingedly connected to the chair legs.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing one of the rung hinge assemblies attached to the end of one of the side rungs and the adjacent front chair leg, certain parts being broken away to illustrate certain details of the construction; and,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken through one of the side rungs as the same would appear when viewed along line 'I-'I of Fig. 6, this view showing further details of the manner in which the associated rung hinge assembly is attached to the side rung and the adjacent chair leg.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and specification.

-Folding chairs constructed in accordance with this invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustration, generally comprise a rear leg and back section I hingedly connected to a seat section 25 by a pair of rear hinge assemblies 30, and a front leg section 5 hingedly connected to the seat section 25 by a pair of front hinge assemblies 35.

The rear leg and back section I may be constructed to provide a pair of rear legs 2 having leg extensions 2 to which a back rest 3 is secured. The rear legs' 2 may be secured together by a rear leg connecting rung 4 so that the rung 4 and the back rest 3 secured to the legs 2y and leg extensions 2 provide a strong and rigid back section for the chair. It will be appreciated that the rear leg extensions 2' may be formed as an integral part of the rear legs 2 and may be made of wood or metal shaped to any desired artistic contour. The back rest 3 may be made from artistically carved or shaped wood or metal and if desired may be padded as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The front leg section 5 comprises a pair of front legs 6 which are secured together by a front leg connecting rung l. The front legs 6 may be given any desired shape or contour and may be made from either wood or metal. It will be noted that the connecting rung I is connected to the upper half portion of the front legs 6 as shown in Figs. l and 2 so that the chair occupant cannot readily place his feet on the rung 'I in a manner to subject the same to unusual strain.

The seat section 25 is constructed to provide a seat frame which may be made from either wood or metal. The seat frame as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for purposes of illustration may comprise a front apron member 26, a rear apron member 21, and a pair of side apron members 28 connecting the front and rear apron members 26 and 2'I to provide a depending apron frame. A seat panel 29, which may be padded and covered with covering material such as leather, textile fabric, or suitable plastic sheeting material which is tough and wearable, is suitably secured to the apron frame.

The rear leg and back rest section I is hingedly connected to the apron frame of the seat section by a pair of rear hinge assemblies 30 as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2. Each rear hinge assembly 30 may be simply constructed from stamped metal parts to provide a seat bracket 3| of generally angular form and presenting a horizontal leg 3| and a vertical leg 32. A hinge arm 33 is pivotally connected as by a pivot rivet 34 to the upper end of the vertical leg 32 of the rear seat bracket. The horizontal leg 3| of each rear hinge bracket 3| is secured to the inside face of the adjacent side apron member 28 as by screws 3l. The hinge arm 33 is likewise secured as by suitable screws 33 to the inside face of the adjacent rear leg extension 2'. As thus constructed, the seat section 25 is adapted to be folded into substantial parallelism with the back section I of the chair as indicated in Fig. 2.

The front leg section 5 is also hingedly connected to the seat section 25, as by a pair of front hinge assemblies 35. Each front hinge assembly 35 comprises a front seat bracket 36 which may be shaped from plate metal into angular form to present a front leg 3l secured as by screws 3T to the inside face of the adjacent front apron member 26, and a side leg 38 secured as by screws 38 to the inside face of the adjacent side apron member 23. A leg plate 40 formed from a stamped metal plate shaped into angular form to present a vertical leg 4I is secured as by screws 4I to the inside face of the upper portion of the adjacent front leg 6, and a horizontal leg 42 whose free end is hingedly secured to the side bracket leg 38 of the front seat bracket as by a pivot rivet 43.

Latching mechanism is also provided to retain the chair in rigid erect position. The latching mechanism, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, may comprise a latching bar 45 which extends horizontally along the inside face of the adjacent front apron member 26 and having the end portions thereof supported for sliding movement in a direction parallel to the seat panel 29 by suitable horizontal extending slots 39 provided in the side bracket legs 38 of the front hinge assemblies 35. Each of the leg plates 40 is provided with a latching notch 44 into which the adjacent end portion of the latching bar 45 may latch when the chair is in erect position with the latching notch 44 in alignment with the horizontal slots 39. A pair of coil springs 46, each having one end thereof attached to the adjacent end portion of the latching bar 45 and the other end thereof secured to the side bracket leg 38 of the adjacent front hinge assembly 35, provides means k for resiliently urging the end portions of the latching bar 45 into latching engagement with the adjacent latching notches 44 to maintain the chair in rigid erect position.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of a rung frame comprising side rungs which are normally out of reach of the feet of the chair occupant, and which are designed to automatically fold with the folding movement of the front leg section 5 to and from chair erected position. The paired side rungs 8 are connected together to provide a sturdy rung frame by one or more horizontally extending connecting bars 9 whose ends are iixedly secured to the approximate center section of the adjacent side rungs 8. Each side rung 3 has the rear end thereof hingedly connected to the adjacent rear leg 2 of the back section by a rear rung hinge assembly I0, and has the front end thereof hingedly connected to the adjacent front leg 5 of the front leg section 5 by a similarly constructed front rung hinge assembly II.

Each rear rung hinge assembly I I! is so constructed as to permit the flat rear end I2 of each l spectively are 'arranged .sicherung ,8 lto `which Eit .isf attached -to '.atly fabut against sthe adjacent face 13 :ofthe 'rear leg 2 so as to `provide only "afhair lin'e fseam :therebetween whenzthe chair is .in 'erectedposition Similarly, feach front rung hinge assembly` II is so con Ystructedas to permit the fiat front lend 1I #of each side :rung vto which it is :attached Ito substantially `abutagainst theadjacent flat face Iiiaof the-front lleg iE to provide va substantially hair line seam "therebetween when the "chair is in `erected position.,

The .rear :and front rung fhinge assemblies Il) and lil .may be similar in shape and'construction 'andimay be economicallywformed from Ystamped .metal parts :as indicatedr :more particularly 7in Figs. 3 ito 7 inclusive. Each .of the rung hinge .assemblies :In and 1I I .comprises a .leaf plate I5 Lin the shape .of :a `crescent lpresenting an arcuate edge I .6 'and a vstraight edge I5" designed to be 'set .into a conformed lslot l1 in `the end .of the rsiderung fas indicated inFigs; 5, 6, and 7. AEach of therung hinge assemblies 'It and jl l also-com prises y'a companion -leafjpl'ate 2li which is a .sub` stantial duplicate of theleaf'plate ISfandzis shaped `in the Aform of a crescent :presenting an arcuate edge 2B' `and a straight edge 2D" which is set into a conformed slot ZI in the adjacent chair leg. The leaf plate `Hi is provided with 'a head portion I9. which projects laterally from =one end of the straight edge I6" thereof, and the companion :leaf plate Y2li is also provided with a similar head portion'23 which projects laterally fromlone end vof the straight edge Zi!" thereof. The head por tions IS! .and 2,3 of the leaf plates I5 `and 29 rein overlapped relationship and pivotally .connected together by a hinge `rivet 24. V

Theleaf plates -I 6 ands-2!! pivotally connected by 'the hinge rivet 2.4 'extending through the head `portionsnthereof vmay `be."economically .manufactured, sincethe leaf plates Iii andlumay be similar in :shape and design, With :the rear hinge assemblies 'I0 and the fronthinge assemblies t! .correspondingly similar 'andfrnade from similar parts. The .rear and afront hinge assemblies -I-G `and I I are constructed `to vbe quickly and f'convenn iently connected to the rends -of the sidefrungsv and the adjacent chair legs. During manufacture of the'side rungs 8, a conforming slot Il is cut into the upper a'ce tof eachtrung adjacent .to rear Vend thereof to receive the rung vleaf .plate I6 of the rear hinge assembly .Il,..and .a corresponding conforming slot l1 is out into the under side 3 off-the Afront end of 'eachside rung B to receivethe'rung leaf plate ai-'S of the adjacent front hinge assembly II. `During manufacture of the chair legs, '7a confnrmingrslot 22| fis also 'cutlin the |adjacent.faceyiil rof'the rearleg "2i to receive theleaf plate .25J .forming .a part ofthe rear hinge. iassembly I andla corresponding ,'slot 2l is out inthe face l5 of the adjacent front leg to receive the leaf plate 2B of the associated front hinge assembly I I.

Each conforming slot I'I is shaped to receive the leaf plate IB so lthat the straight edge It which forms a part of the of the leafiplate I6 I@ is flush with the upper rear hinge assembly face B ofthe side rung hinge assembly II is iiushwith the under face 8'! of the side rung 8. Similarly, the companion leaf plate 20 is set into the adjacent leg in a manner so that straight edge 20" of the leaf plate 20 forming a part of the rear hinge assembly I0 is flush with the face I3 of the rear leg, and so Y 8, and thev edge I6 of the leaf plate I6 which forms a part of the front that :the fstraight .edge :28" of :the leafgplate 21) forming `a `part ofthe :front hingerassembly :IiI 'is iiush with the adjacent face .liofthe front chair Y Similarly, each leaf plate 2.0 isialso provided with pair Aof afseries of nail receiving holes 12 through .which nails LZ2' 'may vbe inserted to secure the same ito the chair leg.

As thus assembled, the leaf plates fIS and 221] forming va part of the'rear and front hinge assemblies I'B and III are substantially invisible from exterior view, and only the head portions -I9 and 23' thereof project outside of kthe faces vof'the `side rungs and adjacent chair legs. 'When 'the chair 'is in `erected position as 'indicated inlilig. '1, the pivotally yconnected head portions I9 and'23 Aforming a part of the'rearhinge assembly Illl'neslt inthe upper corner deiinedby the upper vfacef" of the side rung 8 andthe adja'centvertical face I3 of the rear leg 2 `and are thus vnot appreciably visible. Similarly, the `pivotally connected head portions I9 and 23 lorminga part of front'hinge assembly lI nest in the lower corner deinedby the lower face `il of the side rung f3 andthe adjacent vertical face l5 of the Afront leg :6 and are thus substantially concealed from direct view. The hinge assemblies IE5y and II are nevertheless Aso constructed as to permit unobstructedsw'inging movement ofthe side rungs 8 vto and 'from the chair folded position as indicated in Fig. 2.

The rear and front hinge 'assemblies Il! rand Il are mounted as to permit'therear andfront ends I2 and I4 ofthe side rungs e to substantiallyfabut theadjacent rear and front leg faces I-S and 'f5 so as to reveal only a hair'lineseam therebetween when the chair is in erected position. The rung frame may bemade 'from keither `u'zoo'd vor metal and the side rungs'8 as rigidly secured together "by one or `more connecting bars 9 4provide -a sturdy and rigid rung frame :which isout of the `way of the feetv of the chair'occup'antand provides-strong, sturdy and lasting bracing between the front'ancl rear I'legs of the chair. y

While certain novel features of this invention havebeen disclosed above, andare pointed out in the claims, it Will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, v'and changes may 1be made by those skilled in vthe'ait ingfrom the vspirit of this invention.

What is claimedis: 1V. In combination with a folding chair comprising'a seat section, a 4ba'clr section having `a vre`ar=chair legs formed of' wood material pivotally connected to said seat s'-iction,` and a frontr leg'v section having a pair of front chair legsformed of Wood materialpivotally connected to said seatlsecti'on, said seat section andcfront leg section being foldable into *approximate parallelism with said back vsection vof a foldable rung assembly, including side bracing rungs formed of wood material automatically foldable with the folding movement of said seat section,

said side bracing rungs extending between the adjacent front and rear chair legs, front and rear hinge assemblies for pivotally connecting the ends of each of'said side rungs to the adjacent legs in a manner to brace the legs when the chair is in panion leaf plate being embedded in a conformwithoutfdeparting 'groove in the adjacent chair leg, means for xedly securing the leaf plates of each hinge assembly to its associated side rung and chair leg respectively, rality of slender metal pins driven laterally through spaced conforming holes in each of said leaf plates and into both wood portions on opposite sides of the leaf plate between which the vleaf plate is embedded, said leaf plates having projecting head portions arranged in overlapped relationship and fitted within the corner formed by the adjacent face of the chair leg and the adjacent face of the side rung, and means for pivotally connecting said head portions in a manner to permit swinging movement of said side rungs.

2. In combination with a folding chair comprising a seat section, a back section having a said securing means including a plupair of rear chair legs formed of wood material pivotally connected to said seat section, and a front leg section having a pair of front chair legs formed of wood material pivotally connected to said seat section, said seat section and front leg section being foldable into approximate parallelism with said back section, of a bracing rung formed of wood material extending horizontally between and connected to the upper half portions of the front chair legs and beyond the reach of the feet of the chair occupant, and a folding rung assembly including a pair of side bracing rungs formed of wood material automatically foldable with the folding movement of said seat section, said side bracing rungs extending between the adjacent front and rear chair legs, front and rear hinge assemblies for pivotally connecting the ends of each of said side rungs to the adjacent chair legs in a manner to brace the legs when the chair is in erected position and yet automatically foldable with the folding movement of said seat section, each of said rung hinge assemblies comprising a pair of metal leaf plates,

one of said leaf plates being embedded in a vertical conforming groove extending longitudinally into the adjacent end of the side rung and the companion leaf plate being embedded in a conforming groove in the adjacent chair leg, means for xedly securing the leaf plates Aof each hinge assembly to its associated side rung and chair leg respectively, said securing means including a plurality of slender metal pins driven laterally through spaced conforming holes in each of said leaf plates and into both wood portions on opposite sides of the leaf plate between which the leaf plate is embedded, each of said plates having a projecting head portion, said head portions being arranged in overlapped relationship and fitted within the corner formed by the adjacent face of the chair leg and the adjacent face of the side rung, and a pivot rivet for pivotally connecting said head portions in pivoting assembly.

3. In combination with a folding chair of the type which includes a seat section, a back section Cil having apair of rear chair legs formed of wood material pivotally connected to said seat section, a front leg section having a pair of front chair legs formed of wood material pivotally connected to said seat section, said seat section and front leg section being foldable into approximate parallelism with said back section, and latching mechanism for releasably retaining the chair in erected position, of a front bracing rung extending horizontally between and connected to the upper half portions of the front chair legs and beyond the reach of the feet of the chair occupant, and a rung frame automatically foldable with the folding movement of said seat section, said rung frame comprising a pair of side bracing rungs formed of wood material extending between the adjacent front' and rear chair legs, front and rear hinge assemblies for pivotally connecting the ends of each of said side rungs to the adjacent chair legs in a manner to brace the legs when thechair is in erected position, and a connecting bar extending laterally ofthe chair between said side rungs and beyond the reach of the feet ofthe chair occupant with the ends thereof secured to the approximate mi'd-section of the adjacent side rungs, each of said rung hinge assemblies comprising a pair of metal leaf plates, one of said leaf plates being embedded in a vertical conforming groove extending longitudinally into the adjacent end of the side rung and the companion leaf plate being embedded in a conforming groove in the adjacent chair leg, means for xedly securing thev leaf plates of each rung hinge assembly to the associated side rung and'adjacent chair leg respectively, said securing means including a plurality of slender metal pins driven laterally through spaced conforming holes in each of said leaf plates'and into both wood portions on opposite sides of the leaf plate between which the leaf plate is embedded, each of said leaf plates having a projecting head portion, said head portions being arranged in overlapped relationship 4and tted within the corner formed by the adjacent face of the chair leg and the adjacent face of the side rung, and a pivot rivet for pivotally connecting said head portions in a manner to permit swinging movement of said rung frame.

' GLENN H. NORQUIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

